Jonglei’s displaced urgently need food, shelter and water points
June 18, 2014 (BOR) – More than 110,000 displaced people in Ayod, Duk and Nyirol counties of Jonglei state are in dire need of water points, food items and proper shelter, the director of Christian Mission for Development (CMD), Rev. Thomas Tut disclosed.
“I was very concerned by what I saw in the three counties – only one borehole is functioning in Jiech, which hosts over 25,000 IDPs. Every day, there are at least five reports of fighting over water,” he said.
“In other areas, there were few functioning pumps that were running day and night but unable to meet the demands for water,” he added.
In Gorwai, for instance, CMD staff reportedly saw families left with no other option, but eating leaves of the wild trees as their basic food and drinking from surface water.
“Our staff in Gorwai, Pagil, Duk Padiet and Poktap reports 13 deaths related to hunger; and children and lactating mothers are malnourished”, said Rev Tut.
The CMD director, however, acknowledged that World Food Programme had already started air drops and that he witnessed food being dropped while in Jiech, and women receiving supplies of sorghum, maize and beans. More food is expected, he stressed.
“CMD team on the other hand are setting-up emergency latrines, bathing shelters, hygiene promotions and providing water chlorines and PUR”, Rev. Tut remarked.
“However, the situation is very serious throughout the areas. As a partner on the ground, we humbly appeal and urge World Food Programme to drop food to over 22,000 IDPs in Gorwai, 18,000 in Pagil (both in Ayod county) and 16,000 in Duk Padiet and 12,000 in Poktap (Duk county)”, he appealed.
He further said his team was working hard to provide safe water, food and education, despite rising numbers of the homeless.
“With the help of WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO, we are bringing 46 tonnes of seeds, tools and fishing gears to Ayod and Duk later this week”, Rev. Tut assured.
“We need to provide more water points, shelters and mosquito nets, and most importantly, more food,” he added.
(ST).